Hot Chcolate 15k

First time doing this one - I keep hearing that the amount of chocolate at the end is ridiculous. I love chocolate - running 15K before - what an excuse to eat lots!!! DH and best friend are running with me, as well as 3-4 friends from tri club should be a great day.

Nice, I plan on running this too. Proly me and another friend from the burbs, would be good to meet some BTers afterwards.

I might run the 5K again, I have every year. I'm pretty sure they've moved the race down to the loop so I might skipped it. Also, its going to 30K people, which doesn't interest me either. Not a big fan of the mega races.

I'm fairly certain I'll volunteer. WAs going to do this one, but decided on the Monster Half instead.

I am on the fence on this one for the 15k.  RAM is terrible with race organization.  I'm really worried about how well they can pull off a 30k person race.  The one year I did it I was in line for 30 minutes after the race (I averaged an 8:30 mile just for reference) to get chocolate and the line never moved.  I gave up and went to Starbucks and got Hot Chocolate.  Will be interesting to see how they handle it. 

Edited by mattb1 2010-09-19 1:59 PM

I had a "eh" experience with them last year also. Crowded. No chocolate fodue left for us slower folks in the 5mph range. Also I got a bad batch of the Hot chocolate... I have a sweet tooth and it was downright undrinkable/rancid. I volunteered for another RAM race this year and was shocked at the level of disorganization.

I'm also doing the Monster Half Marathon on Oct 31st instead.

Hmmm...not good reviews at all.  Just registered the whole family.  Two of us doing the 15k (bibs are at 14913- I assume they're doing them sequentially as we got two in a row) and two for the 5k (bibs at 6092 and 3).

I hope they've improved on the organization side 'cause we're all chocoholics!  

Add me to the list of disappointed/never doing again. This race lets in WAY too many people for the course they have, which is irresponsible and dangerous in my book. The addition of the 5K only made things worse. When I did the 15K at 7:40 pace, I still couldn't get any elbow room until mile 4. The other runners seemed cranky and rude which is not at all my typical experience at smaller and more straightforward races...I'm starting to find that can happen at these overcrowded and overpriced "gimmick" races (everyone feels entitled to some kind of transcendant experience because they paid so much). The chocolate was definitely not as good as imagined and/or advertised--the line to get in the tent was way too long, the hot chocolate tasted like it had been made with lake water, and the tables of prepackaged candy were kind of pointless because it was right after Halloween and it's not like they had anything I didn't already have sitting around my house.

ETA: for those running it, do whatever you can to avoid having to check a bag. Gear check lines took about 30 - 45 min to get stuff out for the people running around my pace, and from the looks of it it was even worse for those finishing later.

Edited by dogteacher 2010-09-21 8:27 AM

Crowny and I did this race a few years ago when it was up north and it was awesome. Too bad it's deteriorated.

The chocolate was really good!

They have a different sponsor this year so that should help. I'm thinking they will have their act together somewhat more this year. They have had a few years now to tweak it and work out the various issues.

Hoping everyone comes back saying it's really turned the corner!

Have fun guys! After all in the end its really about the run.

Like your attitude Whizz
Trying to get my buddy to sign up this week, think I'll do it either way.

Count me in for Chocolate and the swag

Edited by NRG42 2010-09-21 1:24 PM

We have to find a way for all of us from BT to meet up at the race, anyone up for that idea?

Ditto, Whizzzzz. I'm actually doing it with a friend the weekend after doing the Monster Half, so will probably be run/walking it. Ghirardelli's the sponsor this year, which is no bad thing-- I plan to go and enjoy the day as much as I can!

Edited by wrkinprogress 2010-09-25 8:29 PM

Let's start a trend... hopeful and positive energy that this year will be the year the race is great again! I for one am looking forward to it. Love me some hot chocolate from Ghirardelli. yum.

I AM IN!

Just signed up!!

WAHOOO...me likes Chocolate...a lot!!

And I would DEFINATELY be up for a meet up with other BT'ers...fo sho!

Edited by miami9296 2010-09-27 10:29 AM

To set expectations:

The packet pickup last year took me longer than running the 15k.

By nearly an hour.

I signed up for this a while ago. I really like the distance being >10K and <13.1, however they were fairly unorganized last year and ran out of chocolate. It moved this year to the loop so I have been temped again. My BIGGEST beef right now is the pack pickup. They make everyone go to the expo, which is fine, except this year it's at Union Station on Thurs and Friday only. How can someone who works in the far north burbs make it there during the week reasonably?? This really tees me off. At the very least, include a Saturday where I can get might be able to get down there. This information was not available when I signed up and had I of known that, I wouldn't have bothered.